-- Unlimited free local and long-distance calling between millions of
Videotron customers across Quebec
-- The broadest urban zones covering the largest number of municipalities
-- illico mobile featuring the widest selection of local content and
stunning video quality
-- 4 handsets in Canada for the first time, including the first Garmin
phone in Canada and the Nexus One
-- First in Canada to offer Android 2.2
-- Best Blackberry plan for small business
-- No-commitment plans with Videotron's unique 30-day money-back guarantee
Videotron is pleased to announce the eagerly awaited launch of
its state-of-the-art HSPA+ mobile communication network.
Videotron's 3G+ service will afford Quebec consumers and business
access to the latest technology at last and provide superior value
for the money.
"We asked our customers about their needs when it comes to
mobile service," said Robert Depatie, President and CEO of
Videotron. "We listened to them and we got the message. Today, we
are coming out with new, easy-to-understand plans that deliver more
and suit every need.
"Videotron's 3G+ service reflects the goal we have pursued
throughout this project: providing the best possible customer
experience through one-stop shopping to make life easier for
consumers. Not only is our offering highly advantageous in this
respect but it is particularly attractive for our existing
customers, who can get exceptional rates. We remain true to our
policy of offering substantial discounts to customers who choose
our service bundles."
SERVICE OFFERINGS
Infinity at the best price!
As of today, Videotron is offering simple, economical mobile
communication services with a full range of residential and
Business plans. For example, the Infinite Quebec plan includes
unlimited local and long-distance calling anywhere in Quebec
regardless of the other party's telephone carrier, starting at
$49.95 per month. For only $6.00 more, customers can add unlimited
emails and messaging anywhere in Quebec.
All plans include free unlimited local and long-distance calls
between residential and business customers with mobile or cable
telephone services from Videotron.
The largest urban zones
The Infinite urban zone plans, another innovative component of
Videotron's new mobile service, offer unlimited calls within the
zone. Videotron's urban zones are by far the largest of any service
provider.
For example, the Montreal zone extends from Rigaud in the west
to L'Assomption in the east, and from Saint-Sauveur in the
Laurentians in the north to Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu in the south,
an area of approximately 3,200 km2. The Quebec City urban zone
covers the area between Portneuf to the west, Montmagny to the
east, Stoneham to the north and Laurier-Station to the south,
covering approximately 5,700 km2.
Attractive options
Videotron is also offering the industry's most advantageous call
management and messaging options, an important consideration for
mobile phone users, who typically add options to their plans. For
example, customers will be able to send up to 500 messages
(counting SMS, MMS and emails) for just $5.00, 2,500 messages for
$10.00 and unlimited messages for $15.00. Customers will also be
able to add extras such as voice mail to their plans for $4 per
month for the first option and $2 for each additional option.
The fastest high-speed mobile Internet network
Videotron's mobile Internet key will support data transfer
speeds of up to 21 mbps over Videotron's 3G+ network, the fastest
network around according to our current analyses. The network will
eventually rev up to lightning-fast mobile speeds of up to 42 mbps,
thanks to Dual-Carrier HSPA+ technology.
Something for everyone: 12 handsets, including 4 firsts
Videotron has also lined up a selection of best-in-class
handsets to meet every need. All will support access to illico
mobile and remote programming of the customer's personal video
recorder. Customers will be able to choose among the most advanced
mobile handsets on the market, including the Google Nexus One
(HTC), which is being offered by an operator for the first time in
Canada, making Videotron the first Canadian service provider to
carry a handset loaded with the Android 2.2 Froyo operating system;
the Nuvifone A5, the first Garmin phone in Canada, with free
traffic info and alerts included for three years; the Motorola
XT720 and the entry-level Huawei U3200.
Videotron is also the only industry player to offer a 30-day
full satisfaction or money back guarantee. Customers are not
required to make any commitment.
Largest selection of French-language and local content
Customers will enjoy one of the richest selections of mobile
content in Canada, particularly for French-language and Quebec
content. After launching illico web in June 2010, Videotron is now
launching illico mobile, giving customers access to 1,000 hours of
free content, a catalogue of nearly 2,000 television programs and
series, 28 television channels, 10 of them live, and 45 Galaxie
music channels. "Our new mobile service will quickly become a major
platform for the dissemination and promotion of Quebec culture,"
said Pierre Karl Peladeau, President and CEO of Quebecor Media.
Videotron's mobile shop will carry nearly 30,000 items (music,
ringtones, wallpapers, games, etc.).
NETWORK COVERAGE
Videotron's new mobile network is now up and running across
Quebec. Service plans are available to customers in the greater
Montreal and Quebec City areas, and in some municipalities in
between, as of today.
Customers in the Sherbrooke, Mauricie, Saint-Hyacinthe and
Beloeil areas will be able to sign up for service in October 2010.
Service will be rolled out to Mont-Tremblant, Drummondville and
Victoriaville by year's end, making it available to the bulk of
Quebec's population.
"We want to offer our service to as many Quebecers as possible
and we expect to be able to serve almost our entire potential
customer base by 2011, including the Saguenay / Lac St-Jean region
at the beginning of the year and Gatineau / Ottawa in the spring,"
said Robert Depatie. "I urge people to find out about our service
plans before renewing their agreement with their current carrier.
They won't regret it!"
Massive project
Finally, Robert Depatie noted that designing and building out a
new mobile communication network of this scale within such a tight
time-frame was no mean feat. "Today's announcement caps a $1
billion investment that has created over 1,000 jobs. I thank our
people for all the effort they have devoted to this project. The
result, the creation of a new 3G+ infrastructure in two years,
attests to the expertise we have developed in multiplatform
integration and the depth of our 40 years of experience in
communications technology."
Videotron Ltd. (www.videotron.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of
Quebecor Media Inc., is an integrated communications company
engaged in cable television, interactive multimedia development,
and Internet access, cable telephone and wireless telephone
services. Videotron is a leader in new technologies with its
interactive Digital TV service and its broadband network, which
supports high-speed cable Internet access, analog and digital cable
television, and other services. As of June 30, 2010, Videotron was
serving 1,781,500 cable television customers, including 1,142,000
subscribers to its digital service. Videotron is also the Quebec
leader in high-speed Internet access, with 1,201,700 subscribers to
its cable modem service as of June 30, 2010. As of the same date,
Videotron had activated 87,000 handsets on its wireless telephone
service and was providing cable telephone service to 1,065,300
Quebec households and organizations. For the fifth consecutive
year, Videotron was named Quebec's most respected
telecommunications company by Les Affaires magazine, based on a
Leger Marketing survey.
Note to media
Full technical specifications and speaking notes are available
online at www.webcast.videotron.com
Contacts: Elodie Girardin-Lajoie 514-380-7772 Mobile:
514-516-7772 elodie.girardin@videotron.com
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